New Recruits

Chapter 2

Disclaimer: Language.

" What the hell are you thinking , RJ? I thought when you said that you had a surprise, it would be that you found this spectacular job. Not this!" Tim said angrily as his son sat in front of him in the break room. They had a little time before Maddison would be handing out the assignments and Tim wanted answers.

" What's the big deal, dad? I would've thought that you'd be honored that I chose to follow in your footsteps. Obviously , I was wrong," RJ said as he sat back placing his gun on the table.

" Don't get smug with me, son. Did your mother know about this?"

" I told her a week ago when I called. I told her not to tell you ,so don't go after her. I have actually been in Miami for about six months. I decided to put that degree to work, and joined up."

" Why didn't you tell me, RJ? I'm more hurt that you didn't trust me."

" Tell you? And have you forbid me to do this? No way, dad. I love this. I've had a fascination with bullets since I was younger. It's your fault, you're the one who brought me around all t he time." RJ said as he got up. " Could it be that you have a problem with me working with Calleigh?"

" What?"

" I'm going to be in ballistics working side by side with Calliegh. I've heard Uncle Eric talk about what you two had before you met mom. I know that you loved her." RJ returned as he turned to face his father. He had known for years that his dad had the hots for Calleigh and he chalked it up to his father being a gentleman as to why he didn't leave his mother.

" You know what, RJ...," Tim started as he heard his cell phone ringing. He paused to answer it.

"Speedle."

" Speed, it's Horatio. We've got a scene. On the Lincoln Causeway."

" Okay , H, I'll be down in a minute." Tim said as he flipped his phone shut. He glared at his son who watched with wonderment in his eyes. A moment later, RJ's phone rang in his pocket.

" Speedle."

" Tim?" Calleigh asked , her southern accent echoing through the phone.

" No, Mrs. Willison, it's RJ." RJ replied as he rolled his eyes.

" God, I have to remember that there are two of you now. Anyways, we've got a scene. Meet me at the Hummer. And it's Calleigh."

" Okay, Calleigh, I'll be there in moment." R J said as he flipped his phone down. He grabbed his gun and stood up, shoving it into his holster. Tim glanced at him and allowed a small smile to creep up on his face. In truth he was proud of his son. Sometimes he wished that he would talk to him.

" RJ, we will finish this conversation later, got me?" Tim asked shooting him a stern look.

" Yeah dad, sure." RJ replied as he began walking out the door.

" RJ?"

" Yeah, dad?"

" Be careful"

" You too, dad." RJ said as he pushed the door open. He felt his father's admiration as he walked down the corridor, and he couldn't be any happier.

" Alexx, what do we have," Maddison asked as she walked up to the body. The wind whipped around pushing her bright red hair away from her face as she knelt down next to her. Jarret was across from them both.

" I'll let Jarret tell you , Maddison," Alexx said as she looked up at his bewilderment.

" Are you sure, Dr. Woods?" Jarret stumbled. He didn't know that he was going to actually analyze here on the scene.

" Yes. Tell me what you see."

" W-Well, there's a bullet hole starting at the frontal lobe and..." Jarret said as he lifted the head , " Ending in the back of the skull. It's a through and through. The bullet is somewhere on this bridge."

" Very good, Jarret. See anything else?" Alexx asked with a bright smile on her face. She had like Jarret from the start. When he started his clinical in the morgue, he seemed to take his time with his work , unlike the many ME's that had come and gone throughout the years.

" Yup. There's something on his face, looks a lot like bruising. Old bruises. and I found a lot of sticky stuff around his neck. As well as this," Jarret said pointing at the neck. There were ligature marks the length of his neck. " I'm thinking that the suspect attacked him from behind and when he couldn't take him out, he capped him in the frontal lobe, which is what killed him."

" Very good, Jarret. Swab and make sure it gets to Trace. Alexx, any ID?"

" Yes," Alexx said as she lifted his wallet up. " Redmond Spencer, Coconut Grove address. Funny thing is , he doesn't look like the type."

" Why do you say that, Alexx?" Maddison asked as she took the wallet from her. She noticed that there was almost four thousand tucked neatly inside.

" These," Alexx replied as she showed his calloused hands. " This guy is a working man. These hands belong in Liberty City , not Coconut Grove."

Maddison looked at the ID harder then glanced at the body. They didn't match. " This is not Redmond Spencer. So we've got a dead crook and a missing man Alexx, I want you to swab the nails. Maybe he grabbed us a little present on his way out.. Thanks, Alexx. Jarret, good job."

Jarret smiled as he finished collecting the swab and stood up, helping Alexx gather their tools. Maddison walked over to Calleigh and RJ who were combing the street for the shell casing and the spent bullet.

" Find anything yet, Calleigh?"

" Nope, but RJ found the bullet lodged in the cement . He's attempting to pry it out," Calleigh said as she pointed to him. She saw as he was struggling. " Keep the bullet intact, RJ. If not we can't do an comparison. That is if we ever find the gun."

" You think the perp could've tossed it?"

" Could've, but I can't say for sure. He or she could've taken it with them." Calleigh said sighing. She was frustrated at the scene, but mainly at Jacinda. " The only way to know is to send in the divers." Calleigh continued.

" Did ,someone say diving?" Jacinda asked as she walked up to her mother. Her hair equaled her mother's in color , but differed in style, hers being cropped short. She swapped at a loose strand away from her eyes to see Calleigh staring up at her.

" Jacinda , I'm going to let Eric get this one. You can observe from up here with the sonagram."

" But, Maddison, I'm..."

" No buts Jacinda. Eric's going to take lead on this." Maddison said as she turned to walk away. She rubbed her head trying to ward off a headache that was brewing behind her eyes. Now she realized why her Horatio always looked like he was tired. As she watched over the scene, she thought about her previous life with her mother. It was a stark contrast to what she was today.

Her attention focused on the various activities going on , she didn't hear him as he walked up behind her.

" How are you holding, Maddie?"he said softly.

" As well as could be expected, Horatio. This is my first case , and I feel like I'm overwhelmed already. And what's more, the parents are feuding with the kids. The only ones that are getting something done are Jarret and Alexx." Maddison exclaimed as she turned to face him. She saw sympathy in his blue eyes as she gave her a smile.

" Give it sometime, Maddie. Don't try and do everything. Delegate. I've got a lot of trust in my team. You should have trust in yours." Horatio said as he put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

" Are you going to miss it, Horatio?"

" Of course I will, but I know when it's time to sit down and let the kids do the work. I'm going to relish this. That is before I grow bored with it." he replied .

" It must be training day," a voice said from behind them. They both turned to see who it was, surprise etched on their faces.

" Ray? What are you doing here?" Maddison said as she moved to hug her half brother.

" You'd never guess, I've been transferred here. I'm shadowing Detective Tripp. Looks like we are going to be working together after all, Maddie. Hi Uncle Horatio."

" Raymond. How's your mother doing?"

" She's fine. She told me to say hi for her. But enough of that, what do we have here?" Raymond, Jr asked as he put on his sunglasses.

The scene had just gotten much more familiar.

TBC...

A/N: I had a lot of trouble getting this out. I hope you like it...